Abstract
Background: El Salvador is a small Central American country, rapidly transitioning to
national healthcare, under a policy titled Contruyendo la Esperanza (Constructing Hope).
The goal of this policy is to provide all Salvadorans with access to health care services,
including contraception. The purpose of this study, conducted on behalf of the Ministry
of Health, was to evaluate access to modern contraceptive methods in the
municipalities of North Morazán. Research was based in the Perquín Clinic and study
dates were January 07- March 10, 2011.
Methods: There are eleven clinics and five pharmacies within the eight municipalities of
North Morazán. All these were visited and face-to-face interviews were conducted with
various parties, including medical personnel and proprietors. When and where a
ProFamilia promoter was located, she was interviewed as well. This required patience,
tenacity and much shoe-leather epidemiology, in an effort to obtain accurate
information concerning all available contraceptive needs and options.
Results: Contraceptive services varied widely between communities, with some clinics
and pharmacies providing multiple options, and others very few. Those communities
with ProFamilia promoters were generally better supplied with contraceptive products
than areas without a promoter.
Conclusion: Access to contraceptives in the urban area of Perquín is excellent, with
Perquín Clinic operating 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Other communities have
limited hours, with no evening, night, nor weekend services in local clinics. Several
communities have neither pharmacy nor ProFamilia promoter. Those who live in
remote areas have few options and multiple barriers to accessing contraceptives.
Barriers include transportation costs, infrastructure limitations, and lack of supplies.